Stanford study on xanthelasma and cardiovascular risk

Researchers at Stanford University have published a study in the journal ‘Atherosclerosis’ identifying xanthelasma—yellowish fatty deposits around the eyelids—as a significant clinical marker for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risks.

By analyzing data from 17,925 individuals with these deposits against a control group of 17,925 people with presbyopia, the study found that those with xanthelasma faced substantially higher rates of heart attacks, strokes, and transient ischemic attacks (TIA) within the first year of follow-up. Specifically, the heart attack rate was 1.0% for those with xanthelasma compared to 0.35% in the control group, while stroke risk was 0.95% versus 0.30%, and TIA occurred at a rate of 0.6% compared to 0.19% in the control group.

The research indicates that these elevated risks persist over five and ten years. These skin lesions occur when immune cells called macrophages accumulate cholesterol and other fats. Notably, the increased risk remains even in individuals with normal blood cholesterol levels, suggesting that xanthelasma may serve as a visible indicator of systemic atherosclerosis—the progressive buildup of plaque in the arteries—or other underlying vascular issues.